The 1 Package: All-Inclusive Virginia Commercial Building Technical Contractor Exam, Licensing & Business Setup Solution

Build your path toward a Virginia Commercial Building Contractor license with an all-inclusive solution that combines exam preparation, professionally prepared reference books, contractor licensing assistance, and business setup support in one package. The 1 Package from 1 Exam Prep is designed for candidates pursuing the Virginia Commercial Building Contractor classification while also working through the Class A or Class B Business requirements that apply to Virginia contractor licensing.

This package addresses more than exam preparation alone. Virginia contractor licensing involves separate responsibilities for the business examination and the technical classification. Class A and Class B businesses must designate an eligible Designated Employee who satisfies the applicable Business examination requirements, while the company must also identify a Qualified Individual who meets the requirements for the Commercial Building Contractor classification.

The Commercial Building Contractor classification, abbreviated CBC, covers qualifying construction, remodeling, repair, improvement, removal, and demolition involving commercial, industrial, institutional, governmental, and accessory-use buildings and structures. Virginia's CBC classification does not independently authorize electrical, plumbing, HVAC, or gas-fitting services and does not authorize construction, repair, or improvement of dwellings and townhouses as defined by the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.

Preparation for the CBC technical examination requires familiarity with a broad range of construction subjects, including site work, excavation, concrete and reinforcing steel, masonry, structural metals, carpentry, roofing, gypsum construction, accessibility, OSHA safety, estimating, plan reading, and general building-code requirements. The examination is open book, making familiarity with approved references and efficient book navigation an important part of preparation.

All books in this package are professionally highlighted and tabbed for exam preparation. Candidates can study with the same organized reference set while practicing how to locate important technical information under timed conditions.

Total Cost: $3,095
Refundable Deposit: $800
Total Due Today: $3,895

The $800 deposit is refundable when the rental books are returned in similar condition within 1 year from the date received.

Book Processing: Please allow up to 15 business days for professionally highlighted and tabbed books to be prepared and shipped.

Exam Details

The Virginia Commercial Building Technical Contractor examination is administered through PSI for the Virginia Board for Contractors. The technical exam contains 80 questions, requires a minimum passing score of 70%, or 56 correct answers, and allows 180 minutes for completion.

The examination covers:

• Site Work: 8 questions
• Concrete Including Reinforcement: 9 questions
• Masonry: 9 questions
• Metals: 9 questions
• Carpentry: 9 questions
• Thermal and Moisture Protection: 8 questions
• Associated Trades and Finishes: 7 questions
• Safety: 7 questions
• Estimating and Plan Reading: 8 questions
• General Building Code Requirements: 6 questions

Associated trades and finishes include areas such as drywall, metal stud framing, insulation and moisture control, doors, windows, and glazing. General Building Code Requirements include life safety and egress, accessibility, fire protection, and general code provisions.

For Class A and Class B licensing, Virginia also requires an eligible Designated Employee to satisfy the applicable Business examination requirement. Class B requires the Virginia and General portions. Class A requires the Virginia, General, and Advanced portions.

The Virginia portion contains 24 items, requires 18 correct answers, and allows 48 minutes. The General portion contains 50 items, requires 35 correct answers, and allows 100 minutes. The Class A Advanced portion contains 24 items, requires 17 correct answers, and allows 60 minutes.

Open Book Test

The Virginia Commercial Building Technical examination and the applicable Class A/B Business examinations are open-book tests. Candidates must bring their own permitted reference materials because the books are not supplied at the testing center.

For the CBC technical examination, PSI permits approved references to be highlighted, underlined, and indexed before testing. Permanent tabs may be used. Removable tabs and temporary flags are not allowed. Reference materials containing writing are not permitted, and candidates may not write in their references during the examination.

This package is built around that open-book format. Professionally highlighted and tabbed references help organize important sections, while the course structure can be used to practice identifying which book applies to a question and locating the relevant information efficiently.

Reference familiarity is especially important on an 80-question technical examination. Candidates may need to move between building codes, OSHA regulations, accessibility standards, concrete references, masonry books, structural-steel references, roofing materials, carpentry resources, and excavation information. Practicing these transitions before test day can help build stronger exam navigation habits.

Licensing Steps

Virginia contractor licenses are issued to businesses. The license class establishes the monetary limits of the work the business may undertake, while the classification or specialty establishes the type of construction work the contractor may perform.

1. Establish the business entity. Form the appropriate business structure, such as an LLC or corporation, when applicable to the applicant's business plans.
2. Obtain the EIN. Secure the federal Employer Identification Number needed for common business functions such as banking, taxation, payroll, and employer responsibilities.
3. Select the license class. Determine whether the business is applying for a Virginia Class A or Class B contractor license based on its intended contract values.
4. Select the CBC classification. Apply for the Commercial Building Contractor classification when the business intends to perform work within the CBC scope.
5. Identify the Designated Employee. Class A and Class B applicants must declare a Designated Employee who satisfies the applicable business examination requirements.
6. Identify the Qualified Individual. The company must designate a Qualified Individual who satisfies the experience and examination requirements for the Commercial Building Contractor classification.
7. Complete Pre-License Education. New Virginia contractor applicants must complete eight hours of Board-approved pre-license education. For Class A and Class B applicants, the education must be completed by a member of responsible management or the Designated Employee.
8. Complete the required examinations. The Designated Employee completes the applicable Class A/B Business portions, while the Qualified Individual satisfies the CBC technical examination requirement.
9. Complete the contractor application. Submit the applicable business, financial, personnel, experience, examination, and supporting information required by the Virginia Board for Contractors.

Application Service and contractor compliance guidance are included with The 1 Package to help organize the licensing process alongside exam preparation and business setup.

State Requirements

Virginia currently defines a Class A contractor as a contractor performing or managing qualifying construction, removal, repair, or improvements when a single contract or project is valued at $150,000 or more, or when the total value of applicable work undertaken within a 12-month period is $1 million or more.

A Class B contractor performs or manages qualifying work when a single contract or project is $30,000 or more but less than $150,000, or when total qualifying work within a 12-month period is $250,000 or more but less than $1 million.

All Class A and Class B applicants must declare a Designated Employee who has successfully completed the applicable business examinations or qualifies for an approved exemption. The Designated Employee must be at least 18 years old and must be a full-time employee or a member of responsible management.

The company must also provide a Qualified Individual for each classification or specialty requested. The Qualified Individual generally needs at least five years of applicable experience for a Class A license or three years for Class B.

The CBC classification covers commercial, industrial, institutional, governmental, and accessory-use buildings and structures. It does not independently provide authority for electrical, plumbing, HVAC, or gas-fitting work.

Reference Books

• Included Book: NASCLA Contractor’s Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, Virginia 11th Edition
  A Virginia contractor business reference covering business organization, contracts, project management, finance, estimating, labor requirements, taxes, risk management, and related contractor responsibilities.
• Included Book: Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC), Part 1 Summary, 2018
  A Virginia building-code reference supporting preparation for state-specific contractor examination topics.
• Included Book: Code of Federal Regulations - 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA), with Latest Available Amendments
  A federal construction-safety reference covering jobsite safety requirements and construction hazards.
• Included Book: International Building Code 2021
  A commercial building-code reference covering occupancy, construction types, fire and life safety, means of egress, and general building requirements.
• Included Book: Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities
  A reference addressing accessibility requirements for buildings, routes, entrances, clearances, and usable facilities.
• Included Book: Technical Digest No. 9 – Handling and Erection of Steel Joists and Joist Girders, 3rd Edition
  A technical reference covering handling, erection, stability, and construction practices associated with steel joists and joist girders.
• Included Book: Carpentry and Building Construction 2016 (Student Edition)
  A construction reference addressing framing, building materials, carpentry methods, layout, floors, walls, roofs, and related building practices.
• Included Book: Gypsum Construction Handbook, 2014 Edition
  A reference covering gypsum board systems, walls, ceilings, framing, installation, and finishing practices.
• Included Book: Placing Reinforcing Bars, 10th Edition
  A reinforcing-steel reference covering placement, supports, handling, detailing concepts, and reinforced concrete field practices.
• Included Book: The Contractor's Guide to Quality Concrete Construction, 4th Edition
  A practical concrete reference addressing materials, placement, finishing, curing, quality, and concrete construction procedures.
• Included Book: Roofing Construction & Estimating
  A roofing reference covering systems, materials, construction methods, measurements, and estimating concepts.
• Included Book: Modern Masonry - Brick, Block, Stone, Clois E. Kicklighter, 9th or 10th Edition
  A masonry reference addressing brick, block, stone, mortar, tools, layout, and practical construction methods.
• Included Book: SDI Manual of Construction with Steel Deck, 2016, 3rd Edition
  A steel-deck reference covering handling, placement, attachment, construction details, and field installation practices.
• Included Book: Pipe and Excavation Contracting
  A site-work reference covering excavation, trenching, underground construction, equipment, and related field operations.

Exam Room Approved Books

The Virginia CBC technical examination is open book. The technical references represented in this package correspond to the major reference areas used for the examination, including building codes, accessibility, OSHA safety, masonry, concrete, reinforcement, carpentry, roofing, structural metals, steel decking, gypsum construction, and excavation.

Books used in the testing center must comply with PSI rules. Candidates should use the applicable code editions specified for the examination and prepare permitted references in accordance with requirements for highlighting, indexing, permanent tabs, binding, and written material.

Test Information and Study Materials

Commercial Building Technical preparation should follow the examination content outline. Concrete and reinforcement, masonry, metals, and carpentry each represent nine questions, so these construction disciplines deserve substantial study attention.

Site work includes excavation, trenching, grading, and other activities involved in preparing a commercial construction project. Pipe and Excavation Contracting supports preparation for these subjects.

Safety preparation should include regular use of 29 CFR Part 1926. Candidates should learn how to find requirements involving common construction hazards instead of trying to memorize every OSHA provision.

General building-code preparation should include life safety, egress, accessibility, fire protection, and other building-code provisions. Candidates should practice moving efficiently between the International Building Code and the accessibility reference when working through code-based questions.

Estimating and plan reading also represent an important part of the examination. Candidates should practice interpreting dimensions, quantities, construction details, and project information while maintaining awareness of the time available during testing.

How 1 Exam Prep Helps You Reach Your Goal

1 Exam Prep supports candidates through an organized combination of trade-focused review, business-exam preparation, reference navigation, practice-oriented study, licensing assistance, and business setup support.

The highlighted and tabbed books are designed to make important sections easier to locate while students build familiarity with the references. Candidates can practice using the books alongside structured course material instead of approaching a large technical reference set without a study system.

With 1 year of course access, students have time to review construction subjects, practice Class A/B Business material, revisit challenging areas, and strengthen reference-navigation skills. Application Service provides support with the contractor licensing process, while Business Formation and EIN Filing help address foundational business setup tasks.

Contractor Compliance Guidance adds support for understanding the licensing framework that applies to operating a Virginia contracting business. The goal is to provide a more coordinated path from business formation and exam preparation through the contractor application process.

Exam preparation and application support do not guarantee a passing examination score or license approval. Consistent study, appropriate qualifying experience, reference familiarity, and completion of Virginia's licensing requirements remain essential parts of the process.

What is included in The 1 Package?

The package includes the listed Business and Law and Commercial Building Technical exam books, professional highlighting and tabbing, 1 year of course access, Application Service, Business Formation support, EIN Filing with the IRS, and Contractor Compliance Guidance.

How many questions are on the Virginia Commercial Building Technical exam?

The CBC technical examination contains 80 questions, requires 56 correct answers for a 70% passing score, and allows 180 minutes.

Is the Virginia CBC examination open book?

Yes. The Commercial Building Technical examination is open book and allows approved references that meet PSI's testing rules.

Are the books highlighted and tabbed?

Yes. The books are professionally highlighted and tabbed to support efficient navigation during exam preparation and permitted open-book testing.

Does this package include Class A/B Business preparation?

Yes. The package includes Business and Law exam references and course preparation for the applicable Virginia Class A or Class B Business examination requirements.

Does this package include licensing assistance?

Yes. Application Service and Contractor Compliance Guidance are included to support the Virginia contractor licensing process.

Does The 1 Package include business formation?

Yes. Business Formation support for an LLC or corporation is included as part of the all-inclusive business setup solution.

Is EIN filing included?

Yes. EIN Filing with the IRS is included to help establish the federal tax identification number commonly used for business banking, taxes, payroll, and other business functions.

How long is the course access period?

The package includes 1 year of course access.

What is the total price?

The package cost is $3,095 plus an $800 refundable deposit, for a total due today of $3,895.

When is the $800 deposit refundable?

The $800 deposit is refundable when the books are returned in similar condition within 1 year from the date received.

How long does book preparation take?

Please allow up to 15 business days for the tabbed and highlighted books to be prepared and shipped.